Wærenskjold outsprints top favourites at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X) beat Frenchman Paul Magnier and race favourite Belgian Jasper Philipsen

In a thrilling display of speed and strategy, Norway’s Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) clinched the biggest victory of his career by outsprinting Frenchman Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) and race favourite Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad today. Wærenskjold's impressive performance in the bunch finish highlighted his potential as a rising star in the cycling world.

Initially a last-minute replacement for his team, Wærenskjold faced challenging conditions with a strong headwind that hampered attacking efforts throughout the race. However, the 24-year-old sprinter demonstrated exceptional tactical awareness, emerging from the slipstream of Ineos Grenadiers’ Sam Watson, who launched the first significant effort as the race neared its conclusion. Wærenskjold surged past the right-hand barriers, holding off the formidable Philipsen and the fast-finishing Magnier to secure a memorable victory.

The race unfolded as many anticipated, with the headwind dampening aggressive racing. Seven riders broke away early, yet the peloton, content with the status quo, allowed them to maintain their lead for most of the event. Despite attempts by UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Visma | Lease a Bike to disrupt the breakaway, their efforts fell short. A notable long-range attack came from Ineos Grenadiers’ Josh Tarling, who broke free 50km from the finish but was ultimately reeled in on the Berendries climb with 29km remaining.

As the race progressed, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Soudal Quick-Step played pivotal roles in neutralizing late attacks. A promising group of 18 riders formed after the penultimate climb at the Muur in Geraardsbergen but failed to establish a decisive gap. Lidl-Trek’s Mathias Vacek, one of the strongest competitors on the Muur, made a valiant effort on the final climb, the Bosberg, but was unable to shake off the headwind, resulting in the front group reuniting.

With 10km remaining, time trial specialist Stefan Küng launched a committed solo effort, briefly extending his lead to 15 seconds with 6km to go. However, as the race neared its climax, the merging of the chasing groups provided a renewed impetus for the peloton. Küng's advantage dwindled to eight seconds with two kilometres left, and he was caught just before the crucial kilometre-to-go mark.

As the sprinters prepared for the final showdown, all eyes were on Philipsen and Magnier, whose teams had worked tirelessly to keep them in contention. However, Wærenskjold, having been expertly guided by his Uno-X teammates over the challenging terrain, showcased his explosive speed and impeccable timing to secure the victory, marking a significant milestone in his burgeoning career.

"This win means everything to me," said Wærenskjold. "The team worked incredibly hard, and I’m grateful for their support. I knew I had to be patient and wait for the right moment to strike. It’s a dream come true to win against such strong competitors."

Wærenskjold’s victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad not only solidifies his position as a sprinter to watch but also sets the tone for an exciting season ahead for both him and the Uno-X Mobility team.

VIDEO: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2025

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2025

1 Søren Wærenskjold (Nor) Uno-X Mobility, in 4:37:53
2 Paul Magnier (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step, st
3 Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck, st
4 Brent Van Moer (Bel) Lotto, st
5 Sam Watson (GB) Ineos Grenadiers, s
6 Lukáš Kubiš (Svk) Unibet Tietema Rockets, st
7 Piet Allegaert (Bel) Cofidis, st
8 Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) EF Education-EastPost, st
9 Marijn van den Berg (Ned) EF Education-EastPost, stg
10 Lewis Askey (GB) Groupama-FDJ, st